Abstract
Twenty-six patients with oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma were treated by mainly surgical therapy, from 1989 to 2003 in our hospital. They were classified into two therapy groups. Eleven patients were treated by surgery (± radiation ± systemic chemotherapy) without preoperative intra-arterial (IA) chemotherapy with CDDP (non- IA chemotherapy group). Fifteen patients were treated by surgery (± radiation ± systemic chemotherapy) with preoperative IA chemotherapy (IA chemotherapy group).
The local control rate was 45.5% for the non-IA chemotherapy group and 86.7% for the IA chemotherapy group. In the patients with only stage IV, the local control rate was 40.0% for the non-IA chemotherapy group and 77.8% for the IA chemotherapy group. In five patients of the non-IA chemotherapy group, local recurrence was seen at the deep surgical margin (parapharyngeal space, and border of oropharynx and upper jugular nodes), and the upper surgical margin (border of nasopharynx and oropharynx, and lateral retropharyngeal nodes). On the other hand, local recurrence was seen at the lower surgical margin (border of larynx and base of tongue) in 2 patients in the IA chemotherapy group.
In the IA chemotherapy group, local recurrence at the upper and deep surgical margin did not occur and the local control rate was improved. These results suggest that preoperative IA chemotherapy for oropharyngeal carcinoma is an effective method to reduce local failure after surgery.
